7 Red Flags: Spotting MercadoLibre Scams for a MacBook Pro 18 M5

Fake Payment Confirmation Email: Scammers may send emails that mimic MercadoLibre's official communications, claiming payment has been made or is pending. Always verify payment status directly within your MercadoLibre account, not through external emails.

Outside-of-Platform Link Request: Be wary of sellers who ask you to click on external links, communicate via WhatsApp outside of MercadoLibre, or direct you to other websites to complete the transaction. This is a common tactic to bypass platform protections.

QR Code Payment Switch / Mercado Pago Link Deception: Scammers might send fake Mercado Pago links or QR codes, or pressure you to pay outside the platform, claiming it's for faster processing or to avoid fees. Always use Mercado Pago exclusively through the official MercadoLibre platform.

Remote Account Takeover Scam: While less common for direct purchases, be cautious if a seller asks for remote access to your device or account information under any pretext. This could lead to account compromise.

Empty Box or Different Item Return: Some scams involve buyers falsely claiming they received an empty box or a different, less valuable item. Sellers should document the shipping process thoroughly with video evidence of packaging and shipping.

Hacked Rating Hijacking: Be suspicious of sellers with unusually high or suspiciously perfect ratings that seem inconsistent with their listing or communication. While not always a scam, it can be a sign of manipulation.

Activation Lock / Enterprise Management Issues: For MacBooks, ensure the device does not have an active Activation Lock or is not subject to Enterprise Management. These can render the device unusable if not properly released by the original owner or administrator.